Pressure roll cleaner

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a rotatable cylindrical member such as a pressure roll of a fuser assembly includes an absorbent sheet having longitudinal sides joined at a seam and having a generally folded edge along a central longitudinal axis of the absorbent sheet. Rods disposed within the absorbent sheet support the absorbent sheet against the rotatable cylindrical member to clean the circumferential surface of the member as it rotates.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for cleaning a cylindrical member rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising: an absorbent sheet having longitudinal sides joined together at a seam, a generally folded edge along a central longitudinal axis of the absorbent sheet, and inner and outer surfaces;   a nonabsorbent barrier layer attached to the inner surface of the absorbent sheet; and   means for supporting the outer surface of the absorbent sheet against the rotatable cylindrical member.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent sheet has a seamless cleaning area between the generally folded edge and the seam. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generally folded edge of the absorbent sheet is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable member. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface, the seam, and the generally folded edge of the absorbent sheet define a pocket within the absorbent sheet. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support means is disposed within the pocket of the absorbent sheet. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support means comprises a first rod disposed within the pocket of the absorbent sheet adjacent and parallel to the folded edge and a second rod disposed within the pocket of the absorbent sheet adjacent and parallel to the seam. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second seam between the seam and the generally folded edge of the absorbent sheet. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the support means comprises first and second rods and wherein the first rod is disposed between the seam and the second seam. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent sheet is an aramid felt material. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent sheet is heat resistant. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent sheet is an absorbent polyester material. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nonabsorbent barrier layer is composed of polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nonabsorbent barrier layer is heat resistant. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for incrementally rotating the absorbent sheet about the support means. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing the absorbent sheet from freely rotating about the support means. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for moving the absorbent sheet into and out of contact with the rotatable member. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable cylindrical member is a pressure roll used in a fuser assembly of a xerographic machine. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus for cleaning a cylindrical member rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising: a seamless tube of absorbent felt having an inner surface and an outer surface;   a non-absorbent barrier layer attached to the inner surface of the seamless tube; and   means for supporting the outer surface of the tube against the rotatable cylindrical member.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for incrementally rotating the tube about the support means. 
     
     
       20. A fuser apparatus, comprising: a fuser roll;   a pressure roll having a peripheral surface which contacts the fuser roll; and   means for cleaning the peripheral surface of the pressure roll, including an absorbent sheet having longitudinal sides joined together at a seam, a generally folded edge along a central longitudinal axis of the absorbent sheet, and inner and outer surfaces, a nonabsorbent barrier layer attached to the inner surface of the absorbent sheet, and means for supporting the outer surface of the absorbent sheet against the peripheral surface of the pressure roll.   
     
     
       21. A fuser apparatus, comprising: a fuser roll;   a pressure roll having a peripheral surface which contacts the fuser roll; and   means for cleaning the peripheral surface of the pressure roll, including a seamless tube of absorbent felt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a non-absorbent barrier layer attached to the inner surface of the seamless tube, and means for supporting the outer surface of the tube against the pressure roll.